Black Women's Group Honors Black Men

Despite a delayed start and a missing keynote speaker, a program of performances in honor of black men played to an enthusiastic audience in Lowell Lecture Hall last night.

"Removing the Mask: A Celebration of Black Men," was part of "A Tribute to Black Men Week," a series of programs sponsored by the Association of Black Radcliffe Women (ABRW) honoring the achievements of and dealing with common stereotypes about black men.

ABRW President Edidiong N. Ikpe '00 welcomed the audience by saying the black women of the Harvard community are "tired of hearing how brothers don't amount to anything...and frankly, we don't believe it."

Ikpe explained the event's name by reading the Paul Lawrence Dunbar poem "We Wear the Mask," saying black men often feel they must put on a "facade" and pretend to not care about societal misperceptions of black men.

"Brothers, tonight, don't wear the mask," Ikpe said.

Emcees Sienna R. Owens '00 and Naeemah A. White-Peppers '99 hosted a show that included poetry readings, dramatic monologues, speeches, dance, comedy and musical performances by Harvard students and alumni, as well as others from the area. Two fraternities represented at area colleges, Kappa Alpha Psi and Phi Beta Sigma, also sent speakers.

Performances ranged from the serious to the light-hearted. White-Peppers presented a selection from a musical written by Derrick N. Ashong '97-'98, Songs We Can't Sing. Black Students Association Vice President Jason B. Phillips '99 did a comedy routine, poking fun at Ally McBeal, Oprah Winfrey and shopping period.

The evening also included the presentation of ABRW's first annual Tribute to Black Men Scholarship. Winner Vonel Lamour, a senior at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, read an essay about being what a black man should be. He was repeatedly interrupted by applause as he spoke.

"My parents named me Vonel, but for now call me black...I have been throughmany obstacles and taken on many roles...only tobe oppressed for a hundred years," Lamour said."I'm on a mission to erase the negative images themedia has pressed on me."

"I want to show everyone that I'm more than anathlete, an entertainer or a criminal. I will showthe world that I, a black man, too can be adoctor, a lawyer, own my own business," he said."I shall strive for greatness, self-pride andrighteousness," Lamour said.

The show's scheduled keynote speaker,Boston-area pastor Reverend Eugene F. Rivers III'83, failed to show. Owens told the audience thatthe show's organizers had not heard from Riversand apologized for his absence.

Possibly due to River's absence, the showstarted more than half an hour behind schedule

"I want to show everyone that I'm more than anathlete, an entertainer or a criminal. I will showthe world that I, a black man, too can be adoctor, a lawyer, own my own business," he said."I shall strive for greatness, self-pride andrighteousness," Lamour said.

The show's scheduled keynote speaker,Boston-area pastor Reverend Eugene F. Rivers III'83, failed to show. Owens told the audience thatthe show's organizers had not heard from Riversand apologized for his absence.

Possibly due to River's absence, the showstarted more than half an hour behind schedule